History and Objectives: Rodents act as a repository of many common diseases of human beings and this leads to economical and health problems. Considering the different incidence of parasitic contamination on mice and rats in Iran, this study was carried out to determine the incidence of intestinal parasites in Kashan in 1997.

Materials and Methods: The descriptive strategy of this study was conducted on 120 domestic and wild mice. They were randomly trapped and after anesthesia, the worms of their intestinal tract were isolated, fixed in 10% formalin and stained. Data were then analyzed statistically.

Results: contamination rate of wild and domestic mice for intestinal parasites in the region was 79.2%. It was 75.9% for Merionus libicus, 54.8% for Rombomis epimus, 100% for Gerbilus nanus, 100% for Jaculus belenfordi, 94% for Ratus and 85.7% for Mouse musculus. In this study 6 species of nematodes, 4 species for cystodes and 4 species of intestinal protozoa were identified. The common parasites for human and rodents were Syphacia obvelata (34.2%), Aspicularis tetraptera (14.2%), Humanolyps nana fraterna (10.8%), H.diminuta (4.2%), Congylonema (1.7%) and Trichuris muris (1.7%). In this regard the rare cystode Meggittina was isolated for the first time in Iran.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Contamination rate for common parasites was rather high in the region. Therefore, it is essential to consider rodents as a repository of intestinal parasites, defense against it and health training programs for its control and prevention.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infection is one of the major health problems in the world, especially in developing countries. The prevalence of infection in Iran varies among different social groups. As the geriatric are high risk group, the present study was carried out in order to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in geriatric and�disabled residents of Kashan Golabchi Center, during 2006-2007.

Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study a total of 297 stool samples (obtained from 243 geriatric and disabled and 54 office personnels) were randomly collected and examined by both direct, and formalin ether concentration methods. The demographic data (i.e. sex and age) and confidence interval were recorded for the study. X² test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: One hundred ninety one (78.6%) out of 243 geriatric and disabled were infected with pathogen and nonpathogenic intestinal parasites (CI=78.6 ± 5.16). The prevalence of pathogenic intestinal parasites was 42.9%. Infection rate in the male disabled was higher than that in the female (P=0.001). The prevalence of pathogenic protozoa was as follows: Blastocystis hominis, 33.3% Entamoeba histolytica/ E.dispar, 16.5 % Giardia lamblia, 4.5% and Dientamoeba fragilis, 1.6%. Also the prevalence of nonpathogenic protozoa was: Entamoeba coli, 49.4% Chilomastix mesnili, 23.5% Entamoeba hartmanni, 23.9% Endolimax nana, 11.5% and Iodamoeba butschlli, 6.6%.

The prevalence of helminthes infections was as follows: Taenia, 1.6% Hymenolepis nana, 0.8% Strongyloides stercoralis, 0.4% and Enterobius vermicularis, 1.6%.

 Infection rate in the office personnel was 49.3%. The prevalence of Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba coli and Enterobius vermicularis was 31.5%, 20.4% and 8.5%, respectively. Regarding the severity of infection, 42.8% were infected with one parasite, 24% with two parasites, 18.2% with three parasites and 15% with more than four parasites.

Conclusion : Infection with intestinal parasites, especially pathogenic parasites, was higher than what was expected. Considering the importance of parasitic infection in geriatric and disabled people and the susceptibility of these groups to risk factors (i.e., overcrowding and immunosuppressive predisposition of these group), it seems that controlling and treating the infection is important.

Background: Swimming in indoor public pools may lead to transmission of contagious diseases such as ear problems, foot tinea, conjunctivitis and amoebic meningoencephalitis in swimmers. The aim of this study was to determine the types of fungal and parasitic contamination and physicochemical parameters of indoor public swimming pools in Kashan.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 water samples were collected from surface and depth of four swimming pools of Kashan during 2008-9. Physicochemical parameters such as, temperature, pH, residual chlorine and turbidity of the pools were studied. Samples were tested for the presence of parasitic and fungal contamination by specific mediums.

Results: The residual chlorine in 71% of samples was standard. The average pH level was 7.7 and 88% of samples were standard. No parasite and free living amoebae were observed. The prevalence of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi was 42% in surface and 12 % in depth, which was not significant in different swimming pools (P=0.95). Twelve species of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi were isolated the highest and the lowest number of species were aspergillus (50%) and fusarium (3.7%), respectively. The residual chlorine in fungal contamination between swimming pools was less than standard (P=0.014).

Conclusion: Although no parasites and free living amoebae were observed in Kashan’s swimming pools, the prevalence of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi was relatively high. Such condition may be attributed to low concentration of residual chlorine, inadequate water treatment and water high temperature.